Ecosystems

Edit 24 …
Ecosystems Unit Summary
Alert! (Very strongly suggested integration into ELA blocks)
The Ecosystems Unit involves a great deal of reading and writing. Luckily, Common Core champions informational text for both. About 12 of the 50-minute instruction periods for this unit are opportunities for meeting standards in Reading, Writing and Communication. It is highly recommended that you use ELA blocks to address these needs.

Details on Integration with ELA Common Core Standards
Lesson #
 hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhModifications/Noteshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
 Science Lesson Duration
(50-60 mins)
 ELA Lesson Duration
(50-60 mins)

Introduce CER and EngDesign with examples from real world
 1
1
 No Change
 1-2
2
 No Change
 2
ED 2
 Cricket Care - Engineering Enhancement
(note: do this OR do ED 8)

<Eco_Gr4_ED2_Eng_CricketCare>
 1
 1
3
 No Change - readings during ELA block
 2
 2
*
 Optional additional lesson following lesson 3 – geranium lesson to provide evidence for gas exchange
 1
4
 No Change - readings during ELA block
 2
 1
5
 No Change
 2

Dependent and Interdependent Relationships - CER Enhancement
(replaces CBA after Lesson 6)

<Eco_Gr4_Lesson5end_CER_Relationships>
 2
6
 No Change - readings during ELA block
 1
 1
ED 6*
 Terrarium Lid - Engineering Enhancement*

<Eco_Gr4_Lesson6_Eng_TerrariumLid>
 2
7
 No Change - readings during ELA block
 1
 1
7.5
 No Change or Homewaters (which would replace this lesson)
 2-4
ED 8
 Happy Habitats - Engineering Enhancement
(note: do this OR do ED 2)

<Eco_Gr4_ED8_Eng_HappyHabitats>
 2
8 & 9
 No change (however, if pressed for time, JUST do the pH test lessons with acid rain pollutant group)
 2
 3
10 & 11
 No Change
 3
15 & 16
 No Change - readings during ELA block
 1
 3
11.5
 Human Impact on Environment - Engineering Enhancement
(replaces original Lesson 11.5)

<Eco_Gr4_Lesson11.5_Eng_HumanImpact>
 4
12
 No Change
 1
13
 No Change

Pollutant Impact - CER Enhancement (at end of Lesson 13)

<Eco_Gr4_Lesson13end_CER_PollutantImpact>
 1-2
14
 No Change
 1
*Optional

Group Members: Sue Backenstose, Matt Beers, Steve Chavez, Juliana Dauble, Sara Dowsing, Elizabeth Engel, Corinne Grandbois, Susan Henderson, Dee Jones, Rebecca Lee, Courtney Luecke, Martha May, Sheiko Nagawo, Selena Nuutinen, Greg Pittman, Tim Salcedo, Christopher Simmons, Kelli Soccorsy, Marian Wagner, Harry Whitaker